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UKIP threat pushes Tories into EU vote

The threat to the Tories from Nigel Farage's Ukip could see them offer voters an EU vote

THE Conservatives are considering offering a referendum on European Union
membership to avoid being trounced by the UK Independence party (UKIP) in
European elections in 2014.

A Downing Street pollster, Andrew Cooper, has warned the Tories they face
embarrassment in elections to the European parliament unless they make a
dramatic manifesto pledge.

His research suggests that UKIP could come first in the 2014 poll because of
mounting public anger about issues such as human rights. Although the
European Court of Human Rights is not an EU body, it is widely believed that
the two are linked.

In a private presentation to party supporters, Cooper — one of the prime
minister’s trusted aides — suggested the backlash could be avoided if the
Conservatives took a stand before 2014, promising an “in/out” referendum on
membership of the EU if they won a majority at Westminster the following
year.